Electric outlet



April 29, 1941.

E. J. MORIN- ELECTRIC OUTLET Filed. Feb. 8, 1940 lill;

EZmerc/TMor/v'/ INVENToR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2,9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 2,240,098 ELECTRIQOUTLET Eimer J. M01-in, chasseu, Mich. Application February s, 1940, serial No. 317,982 claims. gol. zoofsi) This invention relates to improvements in connector units and especially is concerned with a novel type of electrical socket and plug for use in combination with the socket which permits eifective and facile connection and disconnection of electrical cables, one with another.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple but effective electrical connector unit comprising a plug and socket which possess the inherent characteristics of being radially interengaged whereby the socket and plug are especially well suited to'use in outdoor connection of cables under conditions such that lighting is not adequate to assure correct interengagement of certain types of cable connectors now commonly in use.

Another object-of this invention is to provide a simple but nevertheless rugged construction for cable connector units which, while satisfying the requirements of such units as resist ready engagement andV disengagement-of the elements, also satisfy the industrial want for a unit of this type which can be manufactured under conditions of massproduction by simple stamping and molding operations.

An important advantage of the novel connector unit according to this invention over other types of connectors in use at this time is that engagement of the connector plug and socket is in the first instance eifeotuated merely by pressing the parts together whereas in connectorsof the second class referred to above interengagement frequently is eifectuated by screwing the parts together or by aligning a plurality of tines with corresponding openings. It of course will be obvious to those skilled in this art that a simple mode of interconnection of the connector elements provided by this invention promotes quick connection and disconnection as occasion may demand.

A feature of the novel connector unit according to this invention is that the metallic shield thereof can not, except by demolition of the internal structure ofthe socket, `become connected or shortcircuited with either of the connector terminals with the result that possibility of shock to theperson using the connector is in this instance substantially minimized.

Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved electric outlet according4 to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the novel connector unit according to this invention its base with a rib engaging with intrinsically resilient portions of 'the cup whereby the plug i when positioned within the cup is firmly but removably held, plug terminals near the apex of the conical plug but axially with respect each to the other engaging with yielding arms mounted within the cup, and a supporting plug within the cup carrying said arms whereby the same are rigidly held in preselected relationship.

In order to faciliate a fuller and more complete understanding of thepresent invention a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment, although presently preferred, is provided solely by way of example of the practice of this invention and not by way of limitation thereof except insofar as the invention is recited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawing,

Figure 1 is substantially a side elevational Jfiew of Aa socket embodying the present invenion,

Fig. 2 is essentially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof but witha plug shown in position within the socket,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the socket taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the plug in position,

Fig. 4 is essentially a horizontal sectional View of Fig. 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the switch mechanism illustrated in the foregoing figures,

Fig. 6 is substantially a vertical sectional view of theY plug illustrating the interior structure thereof, Fig '7 is a side elevational view'with parts broken away for clearness of illustrationof a plug for use in conjunction with a lamp attached thereto,

Fig. 8 illustrates in vertical sectional View a socket attached to wall mountings, and I Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view'of Fig. 6 taken alongthe line 9-9.

Referring nowparticularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and'Fig. 9, it will be noted that the novel socket according to the present invention generally designated rby the reference character Hl comprisesan essentially cylindrical shell l I closed at the top by a cap I 2 attached thereto by threading |2a and opening at the bottom. to present a conical cup I3 `split near marginal portions thereof as indicated by the reference character I3@ and internally grooved near the base of the cup as indicated by the reference character I3b. The shell preferably is formed from material by stamping operations but it is preferred that the cap be formed from electrical insulative material although, of course, metal can be used if conditions warrant. Shoulders I Ia formed in side portions of the shell II receive a tubular plug I4 of insulative material which is positioned with its axis extending transversely across the interior of the shell. The tubular member is rigidly heldv within the shell by reason of abutment of shoulders IZb against the top of the member when the cap I2 is positioned upon the shell. A pair of spaced electrically isolated tines I5 and IB formed of electrically conductive material are mounted upon side portions of the tubular member I4 and extend within the interior thereof to present opposed grooved end portions I5a and Ia respectively. 1

The tines are held in position by means of an annular body of insulative material I4a which serves to press the bent end portions of the tines against the side of the member, being assisted in this respect by screws II. A rod I8 formed of electrically insulative material is freely slidingly mounted in slots formed in side portions of the shell and extends within the tubular member I4 along the axis thereof in a manner such that it is positioned between the tines I5 and I6 hereinabove described. While the rod is formed of electrically insulative material and hence would not complete an electrical circuit between the tines, an annulus of electrically conductive material |817. is rigidly mounted upon the rod in `a manner such that during a portion of the sliding motion of the rod, which is limited by the stops I8b, the electrically conductive annulus is positioned between the tines, thereby establishing an electrical circuit therewith.

The plug generally designated by the reference character 29 comprises a conical portion 2l formed of electrically insulative material having a rounded iirst terminal 22 on the apex thereof substantially as shown and beneath said rst terminal a second terminal spaced along the axis of the cone and comprising a peripherally grooved annulus having its edges ilush with the coneisurface. The terminals 22 and 23 are attached to lead lines 22a and 23a respectively which extend within the body of the conical member 2I being held in position by a plug 24 held in place by screws 24al whereby the vparts of the assembly are rigidly held in the illustrated relation. The end portions of the connectors 22a and 23a respectively are bent and pierced to receive screws 22h and 23h respectively for facilitating connection of the cable A to the terminals. A cable 25 is provided on the base of the plug to complete the assembly and it is to be noted that the edges of the cable are spaced with respect to the radially projecting annular rib 2Ia formed on the base of the cone whereby, when the socket and plug are interengaged, the rib 2id is received within .the internal groove |31) formed in marginal portions of the cup I3 hereinabojve described, thereby permitting the parts to be held in the desired relationship while not inhibiting disengagement of the plug from the socket. The marginal portions of the conical cup in effect are elastic and, accordingly, yield when the plug is forced 'into the socket thereby permitting interengagement as mentioned above.

A yielding electrically conductively intrinsically resilient first arm 2'I mounted on the tubular member I4 by means including screws 21a passing through the annulus I4^a and received in parts of the member I'4 extends downwardly from the member and across the axis of the shell II ina locality such that when the plug 20 is within the cup I3, as above described, the free end of the arm 2l engages and makes electrical contact with the irst terminal 22 of the plug. The opposite end of the arm 21 is bent and pierced to receive the screws 2lb for facilitating connection of one of the wires of the cable B thereto substantially as shown in Fig. 2. A pair of second arms 28 also mounted upon parts of the tubular member I 4 are electrically connected to the tines I6 and the arms which are formed of intrinsically resilient material are bent substantially as shown in Fig. 3 whereby the end portions thereof are disposed in opposite relationship in a locality such as to engage with the second terminal 23 of the plug 20 when the last mentioned is positioned within the cup I3 as above described. The end portions of the arms 28 are cut away as designated by the reference character 2812 in Fig. 4 of the drawing/to facilitate the making of good electrical contact between the arms and the plug terminal. It also will be observed that inasmuch as the arms are intrinsically resilient, they will serve by engagement with the terminal to facilitate holding the plugs within the socket. The tine I5 is -bent at its free end and pierced to receive a screw YI5b for facilitating connection to the tine of one of the wires of the'cable B substantially as shown.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious to those skilled in this art that when the sliding rod I8 is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 3, that is to say, with kthe electrically conductive annulus I8a in contact with the tines I5 and I6, an electrical circuit is completed between the wires of the cable B and through the terminals of the plug 20,' the cable A. VVJhen the rod I8 is slidingly moved to interpose a portion of its electrically insulative massbetween the tines I5 and I6, the circuit is of course interrupted since current can not flow from the tine I5 through the tine l5 to the terminal 23 of the plug.

In Fig. 7 ofthe drawing a modified form of plug is illustrated connected to a conventional light bulb a portion of which is broken away in the illustration. The assemblygenerally designated by the reference character 40 comprises, it will be noted, a bulb 4I `having a flanged edge portion 4Ia. received within an opening 42 formed in the bottom ofthe conical plug 43. The bulb is held in position with respect to the plug by suitable sealing means 4Ib which can comprise sealing wax or the like. The base of the plug 43 is provided with a radially projecting annular rib 43a corresponding to the rib2Ia of -the iirst described embodiment of the invention and terminals 44 and 45 are provided near the-'apex of the plug similar to the terminals hereinabove described. Lead wires 45 and 4l serve-toponnect the terminals with the bulb in a manner which will be familiar to those skilled in this art. This bulb and plug assembly desirably is used in conjunction with a wall type socket such as the socket illustrated in Fig; `8 which now will be described.v l" Y The socket illustrated in Fig. 8 comprises a rst plate 3D attached to the wall C by appropriate fastening means such as the signals 30a and havingintegrally formed therewith a conical socket 3| marginal split as designated by the socket isfformed Vof intrinsically resilient material and accordingly the edgeportions thereof arein effect elastic. vA substantially cylindrical shell 32 fastened to the rst plate 30 is expanded near the distal end thereof to provide shoulders 32a' and the edge portions vof the shell are threaded to engage with the internally threaded portions 33ar of the lcap 33. A plug of electrically insulated material 34 rigidly held upon the shoulders 32a of the shell 32 by abutment of parts of the cap 33 thereagainst carries a rst arm 35 formed of electrically conductive intrinsically resilient material corresponding tothe arm 21 in the first described embodiment of this invention. The arm 35 is held in position upon the plug 34 by appropriate mounting means such as the screw 35a and the end of the arm is pierced to receive a screw 35h for facilitating connection of one of the wires of the cable D to the arm. A pair of second arms 36 mounted upon the plug 34 by means of a screw 36a and provided with appropriate means such as the screw 36h for facilitating connection of one of the wires with the cable D thereto serve to engage With the second terminal of the plug positioned within the socket 3| and in this respect correspond to the arms 28 in the first described embodiment of this invention. The mode of engaging and disengaging the plug with the wall type socket illustrated in Fig. 8 is substantially the same as that described in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the rst six figures of the drawing.

It is to be understood that this invention is capable of extended application and is not conned to the precise illustrated forms nor described construction and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not aifect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the present invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric connector unit comprising a hollow essentially cylindrical shell closed at one end and at the opposite end open and flared downwardly to present a conical cup, marginally internally grooved, split and formed of intrinsically resilient material imparting an elastic character to the cup edges; a transversely tubular member rigidly held within the shell; a switch comprising a pair of spaced electrically isolated tines formed of electrically conductive material mounted upon said member extending transversely across the interior thereof, and a rod of electrically insulative material having a transversely extending locality of electrically conductive material, freely slidingly mounted in openings formed in the shell and positioned axially within said tubular member in a manner such that the electrically conductive portion of said rod can be slidingly moved into position between said tines establishing an electrical circuit therebetween; a conical plug receivable within said cup, having a radially projecting annular rib formed near the base thereof engageable with the grooved elastic edges of the cup whereby the plug can be held in position therein; terminals on said plug; and means for connecting said plug terminals and said switch.

2. An electric connector unit comprising a hollow essentially cylindrical shell closed at one end and at the opposite end open and flared downwardly to present a conical cup, marginally internally grooved split and formed of intrinsically resilient materialimparting an elastic character to the cup edges; a transversely extending insulative member rigidly held Within the shell; a switch on said member; a conical plugv formed of electrically insulative material receivable within said cup, having a radially projecting annular rib formed near the base thereof engageable with the grooved elastic edges of the cup whereby the plug can be held in position therein; a first terminal formed of electrically conductive material on the apex of the conical plug and a second terminal comprising a peripherally grooved annulus on said plug spaced along the cone axis with respect to the first terminal; and means for connecting said plug terminals and said switch, comprising a yielding .electrically conductive intrinsically resilient rst arm mounted on said linsulative member and pressing against said first terminal when the plug is positioned within the cup, a pairr of second arms electrically connected to one pole of said switch, each mounted at one end on said insulative member and bent at the opposite end toward the other arm, the opposed free ends of said arms being cut away to receive and engage with the said second terminal when the plug is positioned within the cup.

3. An electric connector unit comprising a hollow essentially cylindrical shell closed at one end and at the opposite end open and ared downwardly to present a conical cup, marginally internally grooved, split and formed of intrinsically resilient material imparting an elastic character to the cup edges; a transversely extending insulative tubular member rigidly held within the shell; a switch comprising a pair of spaced electrically isolated tines formed of electrically conductive material mounted on said member extending transversely across the interior thereof, and a rod of electrically insulative material having a transversely extending locality of electrically conductive material, freely slidingly mounted in openings formed in the shell and positioned axially within said tubular member in a manner such. that the electrically conductive portion of said rod can be slidingly moved into position between said tines establishing electrical circuit therebetween; stops on said rod for limiting the sliding motion thereof; a. conical plug formed of electrically insulative material receivable within the said cup, having a radially projecting annular rib formed near the base thereof engageable with the grooved elastic edges of the cupwherebytheplug can be held in position therein; a first terminal formed of electrically conductive material on the apex of the conical plug and a second terminal comprising a peripherally grooved annulus on said plug spaced along the cone axis with respect to the rst terminal; means for connecting said plug terminals and said switch comprising ayielding electrically conductive intrinsically resilient first arm mounted on said tubular member and pressing against said first terminal when the plug is positioned within the cup, a pair of second arms electrically connected to .a rst of said tines, each mounted at one end on said tubular member and bent at the opposite end toward the other arm, the opposed free ends of said arms being -cut away to receive and engage with said second terminal when the plug is positioned within the cup; and means for facilitating connection of wires to said rst and second terminals of the plug and to said first arm and the second of said tines.

4. An electric connector unit, comprising a hollow essentially cylindrical shell closed at one. end and open at the opposite end and` ilared downwardly to present a conical cup, marginally internally grooved, split and formed of resilient material imparting an elastic character to the cup edges, a, transversely tubular member rigidly held within the shell, a switch comprising a pair of spaced electrically isolated tines formed of electrically conductive material mounted upon said member extending transversely across the interior thereof, and a rod of electrically insulative material having a transversely extending locality of electrically conductive material, freely slidingly mounted in openings formed in the shell and positioned axially within said tubular member in amanner such that the. electrically conductive portion of said rod can be slidingly moved into position between said tines establishing an electrical circuit therebetween, a conical plug re` ceivable within said cup and held by the elastic f cup edges, and means for connecting said plug terminals and said switch.

5. An electric connector unit, comprising a shell closed at. one end. and the opposite end ared downwardly to receive a conical plug, a contact arm having a looped portion extending over the center of the` open flared end of the shell, two oppositely arranged contact arms within` the shell and having inwardly turned ends below the. rst mentioned contact arm, a conical plug within said ared opening and formed of insulating material, an electrical contact carried by the apex of the plug and adapted to contact the looped portion of the rst contact arm, said plug having` a peripheral groove below the apex and a circumferentially arranged plate within i the` groove and forming an annular groove to receive the inwardly turned ends of the oppositely arranged contact arms, an electric terminal passing through the plug and connected to the plate within the groove.

ELMER J. MORIN. 

